Apparatus for decorating pottery ware, glassware, and the like



July 13, 1943. w. J. MILLER EIAL 2,324,411

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE, GLASS WARE, AND THE LIKE Filed March 11 1941 3 Sheets-Shut 1 INVENTORS. Lswls P. R5585 WILLIAM J MILLER BY GEORGE J1 Cnawwae'k Juiy 13, 1943. w. J. MILLER EIAL 2,324,411

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE, GLASS WARE, AND THE LIKE Filed March 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. {W'? 9 Reese W: [11 u "3 Cnomvcen Patented July 13, 1943 APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE, GLASSWARE, AND THE LIKE William J. Miller, Swissvale, Pa., Lewis P. Reese,

Solo, Ohio, and George J. Croninger, Swissvale,

Application March 11, 1941, Serial No. 382,718 (01. 41-1) Claims.

This invention relates to new and improved apparatus for decorating pottery ware, glass ware and the like. It has to do with a simpl and practical method and apparatus for applying decalcomania and other forms of colored decoration to the aforesaid ware.

The term decoration as used in the specification shall be considered as including within its scope, bands, lines. stripes, pictures, marks, symbols, lettering, fanciful patterns and designs, etc., composed of the same or contrasting colors.

Generally stated, it is proposed to apply the decoration to a ribbon or tape either as a decal comania or other form of transferablevv color de- "I posit and thereafter draw the tape over the surface of the ware whilst rotating the were to thereby progressively strip the decoration off ontothe ware, the tape and decoration being treated previous to engagement in order to secure release of the decoration therefrom and reliable securement to the ware. Thus, decoration of this character may be rapidly applied to the ware in one continuous operation withoutthe delay and inconvenience of the old hand process of stamping or pasting on decal section by section.

Objects and features of this invention will be noted in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of apparatus for applying the decoration to the ware.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the pulldown of Fig. 1 together with the drive for the chuck and other apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the dose ration applying station of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing two decoration applying stations arranged in line.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the decoration applying station of Fig. 1 showing how a multiple of bands or stripes may be applied to the were simultaneously.

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective showing a sprocket wheel drive arrangement for feeding the decorated ribbon through the decoration applying station.

Fig'. 8 is a front elevation of the decoration applying station of Fig. 1 showing another arrangement of tape-guide rolls.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating how the decoration is applied to the ware.

Fig. 10 is a detail in perspective of a length Fig. 11 is a detail in perspective illustrating one method producing the decorated tape or ribbon from a parent roll of material. r

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a strip of decorated tape showing the decoration separated by blank spaces.

With reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus for applyin decoration to the aforesaid ware comprises a base I on which two flanged spools 2 and 3 are mounted in spaced alignment. Spool 2 has a roll of decorated tape I wound thereon and one end of the tape is drawn between a drive roll 5 and co-operating pressure roll 6 and thence upwardly over idler I and stripping roll 8, the latter being located at height by means of the adjusting screws II.

showni At the right hand side of the base and midway between the ends thereof is a standard It having a pulldown i1 pivotally attached thereto at It. Pivotaily attached to the pulldown is a vertical rod i9 reciprocable in guides 20 formed on 'bracket 2| secured to the standard It. The rod or shaft l9 has a coil spring 22 disposed between the bracket and an adjustable sleeve 23 to nor mally and yieldingly maintain the rod I! in elevated or raised position. Attached to the lower end of the rod or shaft i8 is an enlarged bearing housing 24 which serves to support by means of an anti-friction bearing 25, a rotatable chuck shaft 26 having ademountable chuck 2'! secured to one end thereof and a gear 28 to the opposite end thereof. -As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the chuck 21 is in. vertical alignment with the stripping roll 8 and is adapted to co-operate therewith during the decorating operation as will be hereinafter described.

Gear 28 meshes with gear 29 on vertical shaft 3@, the latter shaft being supported by bearings 3| on standard I6. Gear 29 is splined on shaft 39 and provided with a grooved hub 32 for cooperation with a fork 33 attached to the bearing housing 24 in order toslide the gear 29 along sired instant as the pulldown descends.

2 shaft it as the chuck is raised and lowered. At

the lower end of shaft 30 is a gear 34 which meshes with gear 35 on shaft 30. Shaft It is the main drive shaft of the machine and it is supported in bearings 31 and connected to a clutch 38 which is of the single revolution type.

Said clutch 38 may be of any suitable design,

' ware of 'othersizes by replacing the chuck 21 with one of appropriate size and installing pulleys and gears, of the proper ratio.

II is a spray nozzle for applying moisture to the tape previous to co-operation with the ware.

The spray nozzle is mounted on adjustable suphowever, as disclosed herein, it includes a shiftable spring pressed clutch disc 39 having a stop pin 40 projecting from the periphery thereof. When the pin 40 strikes the tapered surface 4| on lever 42, the disc is shifted to the left thereby a trip 43 is adjustably secured to rod or shaft l9.

The trip is adapted to engage a lever 44 plyotally mounted on standard 45 and connected to a link 40 pivotally attached to the lever 42. A

spring 41 yieldably maintains the linkage in the I position shown in Fig. 3. The trip 43 comprises,

a pivoted pawl 48 supported in substantially horizontal position by a spring 49 against a stop 50. Thus, as the pulldown handle is raised by the spring 22, the pawl 40 is pushed out of the way by engagement with the end of lever 44.

but on the reverse stroke. the pawlengages and depresses lever 44, thereby connecting clutch II to the drive. It will be understood that the trip 43 may be set to actuate the lever 44 at any de- It is preferred to engage the clutch 38 at or about the time the ware B on chuck Tlengages the tape I. v

The driving side of the clutch 38 is connected to a shaft II. of a speed reducer 82. The speed reducer is connected to the main drive motor SI and motor shaft 54. A switch, not shown, for starting and stopping the motor can be conveniently located at any point desired on the base.

With reference to Fig. 1, drive shaft 38 also drives the drive rolls I and ID by means of pulleys 5! and It keyed on the shaft and belts 51 and 58. Each of the drive rolls I and II are keyed on-shafts I! having pulleys l thereon co-operating with the belts. Also mounted on shaft" for rotation therewith is a pulley I which drives a pulley I2 keyed on the shaft 88 supporting the stripping roll 8. Drive shaft as associated with drive roll ll has a pulley N thereon driving a pulley OI by means of belt 46, pulley ll being keyed on shaft '1 for rotating the winding spool I. The latter is a slip drive and is responsible only for winding up the used tape on'the roll 3 and is not effective to progress the tape 4 through the decorating station A.

' By rotating rolls 5 and ill in synchronism, the tape 4 is held to initial tension and fed smoothly across the stripping roll I. The ratio of the various pulleys and gearing is such that for one revolution of the clutch 38, the ware B will be given one complete revolution and the tape 4 will be drawn across the stripping roll 8 in contact with the ware at the same speed of travel as the speed of revolution of the cup. Thus, the lineal amount of tape fed through the stripping station will be equal to'the circumference of the ware aroundthe surface where the decoration is to be applied. While it is preferred to operate the machine on ware of similar size and shape, it will be understood that it may be adapted to port .69 and has a valve 10 for controlling the flow of liquid. A hose ll connects the nomle with a suitable source of supply of liquid which may be conducted to the nozzle under pressure.

According to this invention, decalcomania and other forms'of color decoration may be applied to the ware in continuous fashion. It is preferred to apply the decalcomania or other form of color .decoration to the tape 4 by engraving a large roll of transfer media 12,' Fig. 11, and then reducing the roll. to a number of individual tapelike strips by means'of tandem cutters I3.

The engraving can be done-on a rotary press and severalcolored designs or design patterns may be applied simultaneously to the transfer media. Also, by running the transfer media through several engraving rolls, each adapted to apply a particular color to a design or pattern, varicolored designs as illustrated at '14, Fig. 10, may be produced, the shading on' the designs indicating a fanciful combination of blue and red.

The transfer media may be composed of paper,

' fabric, cellulosic material .or any other suitable medium. It is preferably treated to resist impregnation by the color-and should be of sufficient strength to resist splitting under the normal tension imposed thereon by the decorating machine. This does not mean, however,,that the tape may not be composed of an elastic material,

. since this characteristic may be highly desirable to an adequate depth on the tape incident tothe application of the decoration to the tape.

No attempt is made herein to specify any particular formula for the colored decorating material, because formulas are not to vary with the particular kind of were i'o'be decorated and the method of applying the same to the ware. For

I instance, the decorating material may contain ceramic or non-ceramic materials and be colored with organic or inorganic pigments or dyes.

Furthermore. various gums, binders and solvents may be employed to satisfy particular conditions be stated generally, however, that in the case of decalcomania the color film should be slightly elastic in order not to crack or split when wound up on aspool and should be bonded to the tape with an agent which is soluble preferably in water in order to insure reliable release of the decalcomania therefrom. In the case of other forms of .color decoration which will enable one or more applications of decoration to the ware to be obtained from a single roll of tape, the material should react to moistening by softening sufliciently to permit the transfer of a deposit of decorating material to the ware of adequate thickness.

With reference to the operation of the decorating apparatus shown herein, with the pulldown l1 in raised position, the operator places a piece of ware B on the chuck 21. The chuck may be viding a hollow chuck shaft 2! and connecting the shaft by means of a hose 74' with an intermittently applied source of vacuum. Since the shaft 26 is rotatable the hose 14' will be connected to the shaft through a suitable gland (not shown) Vacuum, in this instance, would be automatically released when the pulldown I1 is elevated and would be applied as the pulldown is lowered.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the tape 4 is provided with gage marks 75 that are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the circumference of the ware in the zone where decoration is to be applied. The visible face of the chuck 21, Fig. 4, is also provided with a gage mark 76 thereby providing means for properly setting the tape. The decoration is moistened at a point in advance of the ware in order to loosen the decoration from the tape as if by decalcomania or to soften the decorating material if it be other than decalcomania. If decalcomania is being applied,

the ware B may be'sized if desired or the decoration may be treated with a suitable agent to render the same slightly tacky. A the ware is rotated against the decorated tape, the decoration 11 is progressively stripped ofi as illustrated in Fig. 9 if decalcomania or transferred tothe surface of the ware if another form of color decoration.

Fig. 8 illustrates how the stripping angle may -be increased to further minimize the effect of vacuum on securing a good clean release of the decoration to the ware. In this arrangement, the idler rolls 1 and 9 are lowered on their standards below the level of stripping roll 8 andthe tape 4 is passed under each of these rolls and over the stripping roll. This increases the stripping angle over that shown in Fig. 9.

In case it is desired to heat the stripping roll, in order to facilitate the transfer of the decoration to the ware, a valved steam pipe 11 may be connected to the hollow interior of the roll 8. Also, valved nozzles 19 and 80 may be provided to app y various treating mediums to both sides of the tape. For instance, spray 19 may be used to apply a size to the decoration while spray nozzle 80 may apply a solvent to the under side of the tape to loosen the decoration. Valved spray nozzles 8| and 82 may be arranged on the right hand side of the stripping station A to direct drying medium against the tape or other mediums.

For instance, if several transfers were being obtained from a single roll of tape, the nozzles 8i and 82 might be used to dry the tape and the deposit of decorating material remaining on the tape in order that it may be wound on the spool 8 without smearing.

Fig. 5 illustrates how two decoration applying stations C and D may be arranged in line. The tape in this case could pass through both stations along a rectilinear path as shown or could have an angular approach to each station as disclosed in Fig. 8. With this arrangement, more than one piece of ware could be decorated simultaneously, both stations being identical. This arrangement, however, comprehends the provision of a decorating material which will permit the taking of more than one impression therefrom.

Fig. 6 illustrates how a multiple of bands or stripes in the same or contrasting colors may be applied to the were simultaneously. In this case, the spools 2 and 3 are grooved at spaced points and all of the drive rolls 1 and 9' and idler rolls throughout the machine would be similarly grooved in order to cause the tapes 93 and 94 to properly track.

Fig. 7 illustrates a more positive drive for the normally make ware tape wherein the decoratedt'ape 4 is perforated along either one or both the marginal edges at 84 for co-operation with the drive rolls 5 and I0.

It will be understood that the tape 4 may be moved continuously rather than intermittently through the decorating station or stations. may be accomplished either by disconnecting the automatic stop lever 42 and permitting the/clutch 38 to revolve continuously or removing the clutch to remove and replace articles of ware whilst the tape is in motion. The extent or length of the blank spaces 9| will depend on the speed of operation of the machine and the time required to replacements.

With the foreging method and apparatus, the application of decalcomania or other forms of colored material may be applied to the ware in progressive fashion, quickly and Without the muss and bother of the old hand have been used up can either be discarded or cleaned and re-used depending upon the nature of the material.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for decorating the display surface of round pottery ware, glass ware and the like, a decorating station'having means for under supporting one or more tapeshaving transferable f decoration thereon, a roll or rolls ably supported adjacent said decorating station,

ment with said tape or tapes to transfer decoration from said tape or tapes to said ware whilst the tape is in motion, driving means for said progressing means and automatic cooperating between the driving means and progressing means for interrupting the movement of the tape after the were has made substantially control means one complete revolution in contact therewith.

2. In apparatus for decorating the display surface of round pottery ware, glass ware and the like, a decorating station having means for under supporting a tape having transferable decoration thereon, a roll of tape rotatably supported adjacent said station, driven means forprogressing said tape through said station, driven means for supporting and rotating a ware piece in contact with the decorated surface of said tape to thereby transfer decoration to the display surface of the ware, means for synchronizing the speed of travel of the tape and the speed of rotation of the ware, driving means for both said driven means and automatic means cooperating with said driving means for interrupting the and the movement of the tape after the ware has completed one revolution in contact with the tape.

3. In apparatus for decorating the display surface of round pottery ware, glass ware and the one or more sprocket wheels 85. The sprocket wheels would be substituted for process. Tapes which rotation of the ware 4 the tape through said decorating stations, means for rotatably supporting articles of ware in contact with the tape at the aforesaid decorating stations, means for synchronizing the speed of rotation of the articles of ware to the speed of travel of the tape, the decoration being transferred to the articles as they are rotated relative to the tape, and means for limiting the amount of rotation of the articles in contact with the I tape to determine the amount of decoration to be applied to the articles. 7

4. In apparatus for decorating the display surface of round articles, a rotatable support for .the article, a support for under-supporting a transfer tape havingtransferable decorations thereon, said supports arranged for relative movement into and out of cooperative relation to establish cooperative engagement between the tape on the tape support and the article, means for advancing the transfer tape over the support 

